Your first week in France: a city-by-city primer

Your first week in France is equal parts logistics and discovery. Paris, Lyon, Nice all reward the same approach: sort housing and transport first, then let the city teach you its rhythm.

Paris — Café chairs, architecture, quiet polish.

Lyon — Bouchons, silk heritage, understated style.

Nice — Promenade light, linen, slow evenings.

France dresses deliberately. Paris rewards a sharp collar and a good coat; Lyon is understated and food-obsessed; Nice is coastal ease with Mediterranean light. The kit skews refined — structured shirts, tailored trousers and leather that ages like the city itself.

Wherever you base yourself, arrive with a documents wallet at hand and a power bank charged — the first 48 hours are a lot of queues, keys and maps.